"Episode 19 - Manipulating the Mafia Boss."
"Did you know that Alvarzo killed a woman but there was enough evidence to indict him?" She didn't move a muscle to indicate her knowledge about the information. Slowly, she put down her bowl.
"I know something else about the Alvarzo family but not that." She took a sip of her water before swallowing down the medication.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" I played with her hair as she got swallowed by the pillow. She paused and finally looked up. Her red eyes zeroed in on mine.
"This thing between us, I can't explain it." She gulped. "I want to trust you but there's so much more that you don't know about. It's better that way."
I increased the volume of the T.V. before placing my lips to her ear.
"I want you. I don't care about him Elena. Tell me so I can protect you." I promised her. Her body shifted closer to me, her fingers gripped my thigh.
"Don't you see, I'm trying to protect you." I shot back like I'd been burned. Turning away, she pulled the covers over her shoulder, dismissing our conversation. Trying not to let her words bother me, I decided to use Nathan to dig up more information about her past. I lowered the volume, buried myself further down next to her and carried on changing her cold compress until sleep pulled me under.
***
It took her a week to overcome the flu. Poor Elena was bedridden with lack of appetite and smart remarks. I spent more time caring for her than gathering Intel.
Nathan Ross made a house call in the middle of the week, his eyes kept zeroing in on me. I could almost feel his patience riding on a thin wire. I could see his jawbone protruding out, against his skin every time he grinded his teeth.
I didn't have to speak to him because Capone's lawyer spewed a list of legal bullshit that completely went over my head. I stood there next to Jamie while he soaked in the technical terms.
He desperately wanted a life for himself but no one was willing to give him a chance because he was born into a different life. Jamie did whatever he had to do to survive and paid for his crimes but where's his reward for being a changed man.
I shook my head and waited for everyone to leave. I didn't even glance at Ross when he was leaving even though I could feel the weight of his gaze on me. When everyone cleared out, I lingered around.
His side of the mansion was more black, grey and white, whereas the main sector was golden, beige, rose gold, even with some red accents. Clearly he wasn't in charge of the décor.
"You want something Hayes." He drank the dark amber liquid from his tumbler.
"You can't trust these lawyers." I was playing mind games with him. I knew he was already paranoid with people out to kill him. "These are high priced lawyers had already represented people who are trying to kill you no matter how friendly they act to your face."
A frown crawled its way to the bridge of his nose.
"What are you suggesting?" He didn't look up so I carried on.
"Jamie has been studying law since he was incarcerated..." He scoffed. "...All he needs to do now is take a couple of proper classes for a while, sit the bar and get his degree. You can groom him to be your legal adviser."
"He's barely 20."
"27 however, it's better so have someone loyal. Who won't sell you out." Finally, I sat down in the line of his sight. "Your empire has fallen. It's gone..." He looked highly offended.
"...You want power, in a different city with people who's already established power. You need to take one of them out to show you're not to mess with. I mean, they think you're at the bottom of the totem pole because you were run out of a city."
"I LEFT on my OWN VOLITION."
"They don't know or care. What you need is a strong house. Impenetrable. Groom him to be your council, build a new empire." My words sunk in.
Nodding he finally set his glass down. "You're right. My older brother was killed and now they want me dead. Maybe if I can build a strong empire like before, my youngest brother might finally be able to come back." Determination gripped his expression. I tried not to show him my surprise. It was a tactical move that was drilled into a SEAL.
"That's even better." I paused. "Elena has been nagging my men to shopping. Go out and what not."
The shudder that took over his body at the mention of Elena's name concerned me. Capone tried to hide it by emptying the remains from his glass. Casually shrugging his shoulders, he looked away. My blood boiled at the ideas that kept attacking me from his reaction.
"She has a tendency to run away so, tell your men be careful."
"If you think that she'll try again, I can go with my men." I tried to act casual but he smirked, reading into my body language.
"Infatuated, are you?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "So are many sons of Drug lords and Mafia. She can manipulate people so easily, you won't even see it coming."
"If you don't want me to go then just say it. Don't blame me if she makes a run for it though." I reversed his attack, subsiding his smug reaction. Getting up I made my way towards the security rooms to check on Jake. I needed to find out Ross's number.
"Yes, yes fine. I'm going to be stuck here anyways." He grumbled, before refilling his glass. The glamorous life style held so many years of secret. I didn't even know that they had a younger brother.
A violent urge kicked the back of my teeth, clenching them, I allowed my body to shake the urge to kill away. Whenever I felt uncomfortable, I needed control back and the only way to subside that was by hunting.
A fragrance twirled in the air, carried itself through the bright golden hall way. The sunlight stamped the marble flooring diagonally, the checker windowsill created squares of yellow lights on the floor.
The bright green trees brushed softly against each other, the shadows against the wall, moved with it. The smell was getting stronger and I was surprised that Elena was in the main wing of the mansion.
I followed the scent up the grand stairs right opposite the main doors. My wolf nose, as my friends used to call it, picked up her perfume from the left. It was during the first week of my job when I came up here.
It was where Capone's mother lived. She was sickly and thin, down turned blue eyes surrounded by deep wrinkles. The sadness in her eyes was permanent, the years of guilt sucking the life out of her.
I stood outside the door that was semi-open. Hush voices reached my ears.
"I can't do that. I can't." Elena's choked voice made my chest constrict. Why was she crying?
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." The elderly voice must have been Lydia's. Elena's grandmother.
There was a lot more sobbing before Elena exited the room. Eyes dry but brutally red. Sucking in a lungful of air, I stared down at her thin frame. She lost a lot of weight during the past week, her bones were a lot more prominent now and I didn't like that.
She was finally wearing a bra, an oversized t-shirt and denim shorts that looked one size too short. Exhaling, I took her by the arm and dragged along with me.
We were closer to my room so I slowed my paced, allowed her strides to match mine instead of doubles. She didn't stop or fight me. It didn't take us long to reach my room but she didn't enter until I turned the lights on and the blinds were pulled back.
Her fear of darkness astounded me. Once the overhead light touched her, she was in my bed her shorts and bra discarded on the floor.
Chuckling, I locked the door, retrieved my laptop from my table and got rid of my jeans before joining her. Turning, she snaked her hand around my torso and my stomach quivered, chest deflated. All the anger I felt melted away when she touched me. I didn't need to hunt, I just needed her.
The thought seared my brain. Gulping, I looked down at her fragile body, the trust she had in me, the comfort we both felt and for goodness sake we hadn't even slept together yet.
The afternoon sun spilled through the open windows, wind blew the light grey curtains away with lights playing tag on the surface. I gulped once more, content for the first time in a long time.
Fuck.
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Let me know what you think about it.
Kat. xoxo